Governor.



W. D. LA RUE. GOVERNOR,

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2. l9|5- 12a Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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A TTORNEYS W! THESIS mmy W. 13. LA RUE. GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION'FILED OCT. 2. I915.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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- Uhliiif lii h ih fi hfi WILLIAM D. LA RUE, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE GOMPANYQA CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GOVERNOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

Application filed October 2, 1915. Serial No. 53,734.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TWILLIAM D. LA Run, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Camden, county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Governors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. I

My improvements relate to governors of the class suitable for use in connection with li ht, high speed motors, such as are he uently employed as actuating mechanism for talking machines and the lilre and in which the greatest possible uniformity of speed is required. In order to obtain a governor suitable for this purpose and which shall be capable of controlling the speed of the mechanism to which it attached within the narrowest possible limits of variation it is necessary to secure the most perfect uniformity in weight and adjustment of the various parts, and while it may be possible to approximate this requirement when but a relatively small number of the devices are to be manufactured and Where cost is not an object to be considered, nevertheless when the parts are manufactured in lar e quantities and at a low cost. it is almost impossible to secure the uniformity requisite to obtain the desired results. v

The principal object of my invention therefore is to provide means whereby slight inaccuracies in the weight or adjustment of the various parts of governors of the-class referred to arising from the necessary limitations of manufacturing requirements, or from other causes, may be automatically taken care of in such manner that a smooth and etlicient action between the various parts of the governing mechanism may be secured and a uniform speed of rotation of the governor and in consequence of the speed of the motor which it may be arranged to control. obtained in spite of the presence of such inaccuracies. This result is obtained by so constructing the governor that the governor members may frictionally drive the movable speed controlling member through a resilient yielding connection in such a manner that the force ultimately applied byeach of the governor members on tion devoid of intricate parts, readily adaptable for use with governors of the types now ordinarily employed in mecha nism of the class described, which may be constructed at minimum cost and in which liability of injury or disarrangement of the parts through careless operation is reduced to a minimum.

My invention further comprises all of the other various novel objects and features of construction and arrangement vhereinafter more definitely specified In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a governor embodying a preferred form of my invention and removed'from its accompanying motor the parts being shown in normal position; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in operative position, the relation, however between certain of the parts being greatly exaggerated for the sake of clearness; Fig. 3 a transverse section of the device taken on the line 33'in Fig. l, and Fig. 4: a fragmentary side elevation of a talking machine motor of. well-known form, and embodying a governor constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the same may comprise a main shaft 2 provided adjacent one end with an integral worm 3 or other suitable means whereby the shaft may be rotated through a suitable connection with the actuating mechanism of the motor proper to which the governor may be attached, for instance, in the manner shown in Fig. 4: hereinafter more specifically referred to. The ends 5 and 6 of the shaft are preferably reduced in diameter for engagement in suitable bearings affording sup- 1 port to theshaft and permitting its free rotative movement. Surrounding the shaft adjacent the opposite end of the worm 3 and rotatable and slidable thereon is a longitudinally extending sleeve Shaving adjacent its outer end a preferably circular friction disk 9, either formed integral with the sleeve as shown, or separately therefrom and rigidly secured thereto by any suitable means.

Substantially midway between the inner end of the sleeve and the inner end of the worm an annular collar 12 may be rigidly secured to the shaft by any suitable means, as by the set screw 13 extending through the collar and into a depression 15formed in the shaft, and'equid'istantly spaced about the periphery of the collar and with their ends rigidly secured thereto in a y suitable manner, as for instance, by the screws 17 passing through the washers 1S and into the collar and steady pins 19 secured'in the collar and serving to prevent the rotation of washers 18, are a plurality .ofxflat springs or other suitable members 20, 21 and each provided with apertures for the passage of the screws 1'? and steady pins 19, said springs being preferably bowed outwardly toward their centers so as to normally approximate a slightly ellipticaliform asbest shown in Fig. 1, and being provided with suitable centrally located apertures for the, passage of the screws 27, which serve to secure the weights or governor balls 30, 31. and 32 in fixed relation with the springs. While in the drawings 1 have illustrated a governor having three springs 20, 21 and 22, with corresponding weights 30, 31 and 32, it will be evident that any desired number of springs, from two upward, together with corresponding weights may be employed, and that when but two springs are utilized they will be positioned in diametrically opposite relation at either side of the collar ,12 and ring 25, and that whenmore than two are employed they will'be positioned as shown in the drawing at points equidistantly spaced about the periphery-0f the collar and ring.

Instead of rigidly aflixing the ends of the springs 20, 21 and 22 directly to the sleeve 8 or other corresponding member as has been customary in the forms of governorsgenerally used prior to my invention, I prefer to attach the endsof the springs adjacent the friction disk 9 to an annular collar or ring 25 having an exterior diameter substantially equal to that of the ring 12, and a plurality of interior diameters, the smaller of which may be somewhat greater than the exterior diameter of the sleeve 8, so that when the ring 25 is positioned about the sleeve as hereinafter described and in normal position as shown in Fig. 1, a clearance will be left between the inner face of the ring and the exterior of thesleeve. The springs may be attached to the ring by any suitable means, as for instance, by screws 32 passing through washers 33 and through the springs, the washers being held in position by steady pins 34 secured in the ring and extending beyond the surface of the springs.

,Secured'in fixed operative relation with the sleeve 8, as for instance, by means of the set screws is an annular collar 36, the same being located upon the sleeve adjacent the inner end ofithe ring 25 but out ofcontact therewith, and surrounding the sleeve between the collar 36 and the ring25 and extending into a suitably enlarged portion of the latter is a collar d0 of leather or other suitable slightly resilient material capable of contracting or yielding under pressure and provided with an outwardly projecting flange -11 adapted to fill up the space between adjacent faces of the ring 25 and collar '36, so that when the parts are in normal position as shown in Fig. 1 the ring will be partially supported upon the *asher f LO and out of contact with the sleeve 8.

In Fig. +1 is shown a well-'known form of a talking machine mot-or embodying a, governor constructed in accordance with my invention, said motor comprising a frame suspended from a motor-board 61 and having downwardly depending brackets 62 supporting a spring-barrel 65 provided with a suitable peripheral gear. 66 meshing witha worm 68 upon the main shaft 69 of the motor, which passes through a. suitable aperture 70 in the motor-board and serves to supportand rotatea turntable 73 suitable for the reception of a talking machine record, not shown. The main governor shaft 2 is supported in suitable bearings 75 in which its ends 5 and 6 engage and is arranged tobe rotated, from the main shaft 69 by engagement of suitable gearing 8O thereon with the worm 3, such rotation tending to cause'the weights 30, 31 and 32 to move outwardly and draw the sleeve 8 carrying the friction disk 9 longitudinally of the shaft against the friction pads82, adjustably supported on a suitablebracket 83, in the well-known manneiyan increased pressure of the disk against the pads seiwing to increase the load upon the motor.

When the governor is in normal. position as shown in Figs. 1 and at, and an equal pull or no pull at all exerted by, the springs upon the ring the outer surface of sleeve 8 and the inner face of the ring will be maintained substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and this re-' lation will be continuously maintainedeven when the governor is revolving and the balls have been carried outwardly under the action of centrifugal force, so long as the pull upon the ring 25 exerted by each ball and its corresponding spring is exactly the same as the pull exerted by every other ball and spring. However, when, under the action of centrifugal force, one of the weights tends to move farther from the center than the other weights, due perhaps to its slightly greater mass or to a variation in the temper or tension of the spring to which it is attached from that of the other springs, the ring 27: will be shifted slightly in its relation to the other parts of the device, the flange 41 of the collar 40 being slightly compressed adjacent the point of attachment of the spring and ball exerting the increased pull, while the ring simultaneously moves away from that portion of the flange diametrically opposite to that point, thus causing the whole ring to assume a slightly angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, in which figure, however, the relative displacement of the ring in relation to the other parts of the device is greatly exaggerated for the sake of clearness. This action of the ring under the increased pull exerted by any given spring is such that the force ultimately applied by-each individual governing member on the movable member 9 will be in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft and the sleeve will be moved along the shaft without undue friction or binding between the parts carrying the friction disk and brought evenly against the braking member without any jerking or intermittent movement.

It will thus be evident that in a governor constructed in accordance with my invention any irregularities in the pull exerted by the governor balls and springs due to variation in the weight of the governor balls, or temper or tension of the springs on which they are supported, or to other causes, will be automatically taken care of by the action of the substantially universal connection formed between the springs and the sleeve bv the ring 25 in conjunction with the collar 40 and collar 36, so that the pull ultimately applied to the sleeve by the individual governing members will not be greater at one point of the sleeve than at any other point thereon, which would other-' wise tend to cause the sleeve to bind in its travel upon the main shaft and to be irregularly pressed against the braking member. The pull upon the sleeve will thus be uniform and so exerted as to move the sleeve upon the shaft without binding, causing the disk to be pressed steadily against the friction pads whereby the greatest possible uniformity is obtained both in the speed of rotation of the governor, and in turn of the mechanism to which it may be attached.

It will furthermore be evident that in a governor constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, and in which the rotative movement of shaft 2 is trans mitted to sleeve 8 carrying friction disk 9 solely through the frictional contact between ring 25 and collar 40, a sudden stoppage of the rotation of the friction disk will not result in a similar stoppage of the rotative movement of the governor balls 30, 31, 32 and their supporting springs, which will continue to revolve with shaft 2, though per haps at a diminished speed; It has been found in practice, where governors of this class are utilized in connection with motors for talking machines and the like, that frequently the person operating the machine will endeavor to bring the motor to a stop by grasping the friction disk 9, and that in such case when the connection between the disk and the spring supporting the governor balls is a rigid one, as in the usual form of governor, the strain exerted on the former by the almost instantaneous cessation of the movement of the rapidly rotating balls results in the breaking or permanent bending of the springs, or in the disalinement of other parts of the governor. However, in a governor constructed in accordance with my invention, the frictional con nectioii, between ring 25 and collar atO'permits the rotative movement of the balls to continue if the rotation'of the" friction disk be suddenly arrested, thus avoiding any sudden overloading and resulting breakage or disarrangenient of the springs or other delicate parts of the device.

lVhile I have herein described a preferred form of my invention in considerable detail and have illustrated it as applied to the governor of a spring motor suitable for a talking machine,l do not thereby intend to limit myself specifically thereto as it will be evident that my improved form of governor may be applied to other typesof motors or other actuating mechanisms as may be desired, and furthermore, that various changes may be made in the, construction and arrangement of the details of the device itself to adapt it to the varying conditions departing main-shaft, a sleeve longitudinally V on sald shaft,a ring surrounding said sleeve,

I of flexible members loosely connected sleeve is turned with said ring while the sleeve is moved under the action of said slightly contractible under compression interposed between said ring and said sleeve 'whereby said ring may move against the resilient member and thereby distort the same while moving with respect to said sleeve under the action ofsaid members.

2. Ina governor, thecombmation of a a plurality offlexible members having their ends respectively in fixed relation with said shaft and said ring, and resilient means easily changed in form in all directions interposed between said ring and said sleeve avhereby said ring may have transverse movement with respect to said sleeve under the action of said members.

members.

in fixed relation with said sleeve, a plurality of flexible members each having 'a weight,

means operative to maintain one end of each of said members in fixed relation with said first-mentioned collar, a ring loosely surrounding said sleeve, means operative to maintain the other end of each of said members in fixed relation with said ring, and resilient compressible means surrounding said sleeve and interposed between said ring, said last-mentioned collar and said sleeve frictionally-connecting the same, whereby relative longitudinal and transverse move-- permitted.

5. In a governor,

, friction disk, a collar rig-, idly secured to said sleeve, a ring loosely surrounding said sleeve, a resilient collar interposed between said ring, saidcollar and said sleeve, and a plurality of flexible members having their ends maintained in fixed relation respectively with said shaft and with said ring, whereby relative movement between said ring and said sleeve is permitted.

- 6. Ina governor,

slidable V 3. In a governor, the combination of a i 4. In a governor,- the combination of shaft, a collar in fixed relation with said shaft, asleeve slidableon said shaft, a collar ment between said ring and said sleeve is the combination of a main shaft, a sleeve slidable on said shaft' and carrying a regardless force produced by each governing member.

Y actuated by thecombination with a main shaft, of a sleeve slidable onsaid shaft,

I a collar rigidly secured to said shaft, a ring looselysurrounding said sleeve,'a plurality of 'members having their ends secured ,respectively to said collar and said ringand arranged to rotate with said shaft, and frictional means comprising a ring of compressible material interposed between said ring and said sleeve normally operating to cause the rotation of said sleeve simultaneously with said shaft. 7

Tin a governor, the combination of a main shaft, a ring surrounding said shaft, members having their ends maintained in fixed relation with said ring and said shaft,

a sleeve on said shaft, and frictional means -connecting said ring and said .sleeve'bperative tonornially transmit the motion of said 7 ring a) said sleeve.

8. In a governor, the combination of a main shaft-fa, sleeveslidable on said'shaft," and frictional driving means operative to normally rotate said sleeve simultaneously withsaid shaft.

9. Pi governor having amain shaft, a member slid-able on said shaft, and fric tional means forrotating said member with said shaft and operative to permit the relative rotation of said member and said shaft. 10. Li governor comprising a main shaft,

a sleeve surrounding said shaft and'rela tively rotatable' with respect thereto, and

' governing members rotated by said shaft and operative to normally rotate said sleeve simultaneouslywith said shaft.

11. In a governor, the combination of a shaft; a plurality of governing membersand a movable member located on the shaft frictionally driven from the shaft through thegoverning members and so connected thereto by a yieldable material as to permit" any variations in the amount or direction of pull errerted by each governing member on the movable member to operate without increasing the friction between the movable member and theshaft.

12'. In a governor, the combination of a shaft, a plurality of governing members and a movable member operated thereby through a compressible connection whereby the pull ultimately applied by said governing members on said movable member operates in a substantially uniform amount and directlon of any'inequalities 1n the actual a universally movable connecting member consisting of a resiliently yielda-ble element.

l-l. In a governor, the combination of a plurality of governing members and a movablemember connected to sand governing members by a universally movable and remit any variations in the amount or direction 10 siliently yieldable connection. of pull exerted by each governing member 15. In a governor, the combination of a on the movable member to operate Without plurality of rotatable governing members, increasing the friction between the movable a speed controlling member movably supmember and its support.

ported adjacent said governing members In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set 15 and driven thereby, said governing members my hand this 1st day of October, 1915.

and speed controlling. member being connected by a yieldable material so as to per- WILLIAl I D. LA RUE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

